Force my hand

Down in south England Walburga Black sat across from the young death eater. The dark room barely lit by the four floating flames in it, she sighed as her heel clicked on the stone floor beneath the table from where she sat. The boy was gaining more anxiety with every step, he rubbed his hands together under the table as he looked around the room.

Detailed pillars that curved out the wall stood to the ceiling, connecting to the darkness that hung over them. Small flecks of crimson travelled along the walls like droplets of blood raining down around them. The boy took a deep breath to which Walburga stared at him for, he held his breath until she looked away. Making sure to exhale slowly as his eyes bugged out.

The boy jumped as the door slammed open, it crashed into the wall and boomed throughout the room. Walburga turned to look at the entrance with a glance, when she saw him walk in she sat up straighter.

"Let's skip the pleasantries." The Dark Lord said as he floated around the table, "We have much to discuss." He told Walburga seriously as he came to stand behind the boy.

"What is there to discuss, my lord?" She asked curiously, her hands intertwining on the table as she relaxed.

“There has been a discovery as of last night,” His voice slowly travelled as he began to pace. “A traitor to my cause.” The Dark Lord explained, his hands motioning with an open palm as he glided behind the boy.

Walburga looked hopeful, repressing a smile with pursed lips as she continued to watch the Dark Lord. “A traitor?” She parroted back, The Dark Lord waving her off as he watched her. She thought quickly before anything, looking at the nervous boy thoughtful before understanding washed over her. “Do you wish for me to deal with him?” She asked, a smile shown in her upturned lips as her head tilted down.

The boy looked up at her quickly, she raised an eyebrow at him.

The Dark Lord stopped his pacing as he turned to her, watching her with a curious gaze before he understood. “Ah.” He breathed, looking over her more thoughtfully. “Would you?” He questioned, watching her carefully.

She stared back, “Yes.” She answered truthfully, conveying her loyalty. Her need to prove it overtaking everything.

The Dark Lord glanced at her before moving to stand on the other side of the boy. “And if he wasn’t the traitor, would you still deal with them for me?” He asked, dismissing the boy with a wave of his hand as he focused on Walburga.

“I would.” She answered again.

“And if it was your son,” The Dark Lord leaned over her. “Would you deal with him?” He asked her with a whisper.

The question took her off guard, after collecting herself she didn’t question it.

“I would.” She told him, resentment littered in her words and anger dilating in her eyes. She never did forgive Sirius for what he did, for what he always did. She would always regret him, she didn’t pay enough attention to him before it was too late.

He was a coward, running away when life got difficult or didn’t go his way. Sooner or later he will realise how life truly is. How running away did nothing to save him from what he thought he didn’t deserve because he always got what he deserved. He just deluded himself to think he deserved better, when Walburga gave him everything. She made him everything he was.

So she didn’t hesitate.

The Dark Lord smiled, a wicked smile that took over his face and fit perfectly as he stood tall. “This has been much better than I could have expected.” He told her as he walked back behind the boy.

Walburga smiled back as she unfolds her hands and lets them rest on the table, getting more comfortable by the second. Her eyes lit up wildly, loving how she took him off guard.

“Now, for the traitor-” The Dark Lord breathed, Walburga focusing as she sat up straighter than before. “He won’t be needing to be dealt with.” He said as he glided around the table, looking at her for a reaction.

Walburga watched him with a blank face. ‘Is Sirius dead?’ She asked herself, unknowing of the answer. She would have felt it, no? Her question asked in her creased eyebrows and squinted eyes.

The Dark Lord smiled, “He was actually dealt with by this young man.” He waved off the boy sitting across from her.

She glanced at him quickly. Unknowing if the anger she felt was because she wasn’t there or if it was because this scrawny boy managed to kill a Black she raised. It was more embarrassment than anger, she hadn’t raised Sirius like that. “You?” She questioned with a raised eyebrow that was filled with disbelief.

The boy looked up at her, glancing at The Dark Lord before trying to speak. “Well-”

He was interrupted, “I was surprised too.” The Dark Lord laughed as he looked at the boy who forced his head down, coming around the table to stand beside her. “Apparently, little Regulus put up a good fight though.” He said with a victorious smile.

Walburga turned to him quickly, she mustn’t have heard that right. “Regulus?” She questioned.

“Tell her how it happened.” The Dark Lord said, motioning with his hand to the boy. Walburga turned her attention to him as she listened carefully. It couldn’t have been Regulus.

The boy looked between them, his leg bouncing nervously as he cleared his throat. “He killed them all.. Using a powerful fire.” He said, Walburga tilted her head with deliberation because her Regulus? Killed them all? How many? She wondered.

“He put up a good fight, really good, but I managed to kill him before he could carry on.” The boy nodded as he spoke, numbness taking over as he recalled the memories. He looked up at Walburga. “There was nothing left of Regulus Black.”

Walburga sucked in a breath, her hands intertwining once more as she clawed at them. The unusual feeling of surprise crept up her spine, it twisted and morphed before reaching her shoulders. The anger it turned into leant down and bit into her neck, the poison that infected her blood and tainted her heart caused her to bite into nothing. Her jaw clenching as she tried to breathe through it all, it was unrelenting.

‘Why.’ She questioned.

‘Why would he do this?!’ She screamed at herself, pondering why he would ever betray Voldemort like this. Why would he ever betray her like this! Especially after- Sirius.

She breathed out a harsh breath. Of course it was him, it was always… him.

The journey back to Grimmauld Place didn't take long at all. Her thoughts filled with a mind numbing replay of what the boy described. Of what happened. How it happened. Only Walburga knew why it had happened.

The forest flames covered her body as she stepped into Grimmauld Place, her anger seeping onto the floor through the shadow of herself. A faint crack of tension followed her as she travelled through the house, stomping through the living room and past Orion who sat on the couch.

She stopped before leaving the room, turning quickly to face him. “Are you not going to ask me what is wrong?” She questioned with a vile tone.

Orion looked up at her, “What’s wrong?” He asked tiredly, sighed heavily.

Walburga scoffed, “Maybe try to sound like you actually mean it.” She seethed, the shadows on her face turning darker as they danced across her skin. Sinking into her being as stared at him.

“I did mean it.” He argued with a scoff of his own, shaking his head as he went to stand.

“Right, you always meant it. Didn’t you?” She questioned darkly as she watched him.

He silently groaned as he looked at her, “Don’t do that.” He told her as he went to leave, stumbling away.

“Don’t do what? Don’t do anything- like what you have always done?” She screamed, her voice erupting with force as she threw her hands down angrily.

Orion turned around slowly, “You aren’t even angry at me!” He accused, “Go yell at whoever you’re angry at!” He motioned to the door, leaving the room finally and walking up the stairs.

Walburga was left stewing in the tension, darkness circling like hawks. Gliding in the shadows as they waited to attack, surrounding every inch as they pounced. Smothering her in the darkness as it took over, engulfing her whole.

She moved with purpose as she stomped back over to the fireplace, taking too much powder as she tossed it in. It fell to the floor messily as she stepped over it into the flames once more.

Her head hung bitterly as the flames flicked over it, taking her. Once she had stepped out once more, she didn’t stop for anything. Not even caring if anyone saw her as she flicked her wand and she apparated away.

————————————————————————————————————————

It was silent outside, too quiet. A Black mist formed a silhouette outside the large cottage, her form taking place on the path. Just outside of the barrier around the house, it didn't take much for her to step through the simple wards but she knew her presence will be known.

She couldn't open the door when she reached it and her rage rushed through her body making her slam against the door. “Sirius Orion Black!” She screeched, hearing the clatter upstairs she knew she was heard. “You get out here right now!” She screamed more, slamming her fists into the door.

“Walburga I'm going to have to ask you to leave.” Fleamont was standing on the other side of the door as he opened it slightly.

“I'm not leaving without him.” A hiss took over her words, “If you don't get out here!-” Her wand lifted, “Then I'll burn it to the ground.” Her wand struck to her side, fire lighting the bushes under the windows.

Fleamont opened the door more, “Walburga! Leave our house-” That was all she needed to force Fleamont away from the door with her magic and she entered.

Sirius came to stand at the top of the stairs, James forcing himself in front of him down the steps. “This isn’t your house, you can’t just barge in here looking for me.”

“It isn’t yours either.” She spat back, “You are a selfish and pathetic excuse for a black.” Her entire body moved as she heaved breaths.

“Because I’m not one.” His voice wavered, as he looked at Fleamont getting up from the floor. The spell his mother sent towards him almost made him fall down the stairs and he faintly heard Fleamont calling for Euphemia.

“You- you were so difficult-” Sirius could only focus on James in front of him, now with his wand out. “Always causing problems and wanting more and more- more than you deserved.” A vicious smile took over her face, “You can’t blame me for not loving you. I tried.” She screeched.

Her rambling was cut off by Euphemia, “Walburga!” She came to stand in front of her husband before taking a look at her boys up the stairs, her eyes catching onto the wall behind them. “The meaning of your visit?” Her eyes clearly judging the woman in front of her.

“It is not my fault!- It’s not my fault.” She whispered. “Why couldn’t you have been like-” Like a traitor? Like what he is? “Why do you have to corrupt everyone around you?!” She questioned as she screeched to the floor, raking a hand through her hair that pulled on her head through her messy waves. “He’s gone..” She whispered.

“I think it’s time you leave.” Euphemia stood in front of them all.

“He’s dead.” Her callous words were nothing to the dead stare she gave her own son. “He’s dead and it’s all your fault.” No one listened to her rambling to understand it.

“You need to leave, now. You have no right to speak or be near Sirius.”

“Watch your mouth, Euphemia.” Her wand creaked in her hand, “He is my son, Sirius Black, and I’m Lady Black to you.” Walburga tried to reclaim her dignity.

Euphemia stepped forwards, “The people of this house are mine. I believe you’ve already been told to leave.” A protectiveness took over, her assertive voice pushed ahead a wave of magic. She took another step, the force of her wordless blast putting out the fires and pushing Walburga from her home. “And if you insist on titles, then it’s Lady Potter to you.”

“How cute,” She stumbled on the porch. “But psychotic that you think you have respect for your name or your magic.”

“I do not want nor need your respect, not for my Black heritage or my name now.” Euphemia stepped outside of her house as her wand was grasped in her hand, her eyes staring straight.

James and Sirius’s mouths were on the floor as they watched Euphemia stare down Walburga, who seethed at her words. Her husband stood behind her, smiling pleasantly, as if the fight had already been won.

Euphemia stepped forwards once more. “If you wish for me to teach you the meaning of my name, then by all means, lift your wand. Walburga.”

And she tried, her wand lifting an inch before Euphemia had a spell ready, Walburga had to protect herself from that instead. They exchanged one blow, their magic touching in the middle and within a second Walburga’s wand was thrown across the grass as she was left bristling.

Euphemia Potter was not moved. “I suggest you leave, before I show you how worthy I am of your respect and obedience, as your elder and your better.”

The boys were downright giddy at her words, goosebumps over their arms as they watched Euphemia, their mother, in all the confidence of the strongest witch of her age.

With an ashamed whisper of accio, she summoned her wand and disappeared in a black mist. Walburga Black, fleeing from a fight against Euphemia Potter.

“We should revamp the wards,” She spoke to Fleamont as she closed the front door.

“Of course.” Her husband agreed, “Would you like a tea?”

“I’d love one darling,” Fleamont left to the kitchen and the boys watched with sparkles in their eyes at how normal they were being. Sirius rambled on the words that Euphemia said as if it were gospel, his eyes watering.

James ran down the stairs after them, “I didn’t know you were so good at wordless magic, mum,”

Sirius trailed after them, “By all means, lift your wand, Walburga.” He giggled.

“That magic would have been so useful for pranks, you could have taught me! You’re so good!”

“I would have thought you becoming a father would make you grow up.” She mused, listening to the kettle as she watched Fleamont make her tea, one sugar and a splash of milk. “And you wanted me to teach you wordless magic for pranks? So you could torture your professors more?”

Her question went unfortunately answered as they both nodded, “Yes.”

________________________________________

It didn’t help her anger, it made her hateful. Spiteful.

Walburga apparated back into Grimmauld place, black mist circling around her as her heels clicked against the hardwood floors. She was past disappointment, past anger. All that was left was a burning hole in her chest.

She made it to the family tree. Looking at them all, every ancestor she had, every family member she had now. She hated the sight, it meant nothing. It was supposed to be sacred, centuries of names from a powerful family. Her powerful family. And now it was nothing.

A rageful scream found its way out of her before she started to flick her wand, cutting up the wall paper in front of her. Cutting off her family tree, cutting off her family.

As she made her way around the room there was nothing stopping her. No sense of pride, no righteousness for the Black name. The Ancient and Nobel house of Black.

“Pathetic!” She screamed out, the words carrying further. “Useless.” She cut off her great grandfather and watched his spot turn black. “Not good enough.” She watched them turn black as their skulls, faces were erased.

“None of you were good enough.”

“Walburga? What- what are you doing?!”

She turned to see her husband. Orion.. The most pathetic out of all of them. Her wand ignited as she stared at him. “We’re starting over..” She whispered watching the black spread on the wallpaper.

“Starting ov-” He didn’t get to finish his sentence as fire dripped from her wand and leaped its way over to him. She hadn’t even looked, the fire reacted to her whim. When she did look over, black mist had encased him. He was running- that motherfucker.

Her eyes brightened from the fire, the orange and blue making a red hue come from them. “We’re starting over.” She said conclusively as she breathed out, as if she was watching the sun set. She fixed herself up before taking her wand and aparating out of the house. She wouldn’t get to see his skull burn off the tapestry but she made an oath, she’d watch the life drain from his eyes.

She was gone, less rageful than before but a coldness had harboured its way into her being.